AT&T Gears Up for the iPhone

ElvaWSJ writes "In preparation for its exclusive launch of the cellphone industry's most anticipated device, AT&T is pulling out all the stops. It is adding about 2,000 temporary employees to cope with the influx of shoppers in the first few months. And it is planning for enhanced security to control the potentially large crowds and avoid theft of the phones, which will go for a steep $499 or $599, depending on memory capacity. Some sales agents expect to see people camping outside the night before. 'Apple, which plans to start selling the phone in all of its 162 retail stores on June 29, did not disclose any plans around training or staffing for the launch. Apple will also start selling the phone online on the launch date, but AT&T will first launch only in its stores ... AT&T, which is requiring iPhone shoppers to sign up for a 2-year contract, has not yet revealed the service fees it will charge iPhone customers.'"

What is this "iPhone" thing you speak of,

[93,000]

and why have I never heard of it?

Re:What is this "iPhone" thing you speak of,

[aichpvee]

It must be something from Google since the little i is the same as in their customizable homepage, iGoogle.

Steal This Phone

[Nom du Keyboard]

Since the phones will only work on Cingular, and AT&T is the only seller, so they know where they all should be, would it be that easy to actually use the phone given that you managed to steal it? Truth is, if the phones can be reprogrammed that easily, then no iPhone will be safe. You'll be in more danger using one than wearing white ear buds.

More likely, a stolen phone will be programmed to automatically take a picture of the person holding it, read their fingerprints on the touch screen, silently send out its GPS-derived position, and then use a Sony battery to burst into flames in the thief's hands and pockets!

Seriously, if this thing doesn't have the latest security protection against theft and misuse, it's a waste of money.

iPhone Stampede

[Ankou]

As a former Henrico County Citizen, I can tell you first hand that 2000 extra employees will not be enough [slashdot.org]!

Re:Lame.

[Captain Splendid]

Lame.

This device will bomb.

I love it when Taco posts anonymously.

Re:What is this "iPhone" thing you speak of,

[TheRaven64]

Some Cisco thing, I think.

Guys jeez, calm down about the data plans

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, the data plans will cost more than say buying a Treo on Verizon, but this is Apple you morons.

The data will be better. The packets will be shinyer and better designed. The ICMP packets will be way hipper than the ICMP packets that Pocket PCs use. The bits themselves, individually forged and polished by the finest craftsmen in the world. In individual leather pouches.

So yeah, it costs more. But it's worth more, because the web pages that you view with Apple are BETTER than the shitty ones that all the losers with PCs look at.

It costs a little more to be better than everyone else, so just deal with it, K?

Re:Tattoos

[benjamin264]

Apple or AT&T logo

Why not the Death Apple?! The chunk out of the apple would go with the dimple in the Death Star... Oh, this is good.

Re:Better story in USA Today...

[Anonymous Coward]

Wait. USA Today? A better story?!?

Mod parent Funny.